Furniture construction



May 10, 1966 E. D. SMITH ETAL FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets$heet 1 Filed Nov. 5, 1964 Fig. 1.

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FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 11.

INVENTOR. EARL DALLAS SMITH and BY JAMES E. PATRICKH Al-lorneqs United States Patent .0

3,250,570 FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION Earl Dallas Smith, Scottsdale, and James E. Patrick 2nd, Phoenix, Ariz., assignors'to PPS & G, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz., a corporation of Arizona Filed Nov. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 408,570 3 Claims. (Cl. 297-442) This invention relates to furniture, and more particularly, in the embodiments herein set forth, the invention relates to chair structures generally or wholly formed from a foldable, lightweight material, such as fiberboards or the like.

Concepts of the present invention provide such a chair from a very few parts, the chair core providing columntype support in a more economical manner than previous chairs of this general nature, having fewer components yet providing the desired strength and rigidity.

Other concepts of the present invention provide a chair body from the foldable material, but having auxiliary legs, providing a chair of desired vertical height but providing more rigidity by eliminating some of the vertical height of the foldable-material portion of the chair.

These and other concepts and details of the present invention, providing a furniture construction of novel and advantageous concepts and construction, will further appear in the following description of illustrative embodiments thereof, together with the accompanying somewhat diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a card or fibre board blank cut and scored so that, when in set-up condition, it constitutes the frame or casing structure body of the chair;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of one of the longitudinal re-inforcing or supporting webs or panels of the chair core;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of one of the transverse re-inforcing or supporting webs or panels of the chair core; 7

FIG. 4 is a face view of a blank cut and scored so that, when in set-up condition, it constitutes a back-brace member;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the chair core, in assembled form;

FIG. 6 is aperspective view of the casing structure in a partially-assembled condition, the core and the backbrace member inserted therein;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 6, but with the chair in a more-assembled condition, the back and one side being in fully-assembled form;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective View of the chair, fully assembled except for assemblyof the seat panel;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view similar to FIG. 8, with the chair shown as fully assembled;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bottom of the chair, the chair being fully assembled except for the folding of the side-panel of the bottom into place;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary detail view of a base-portion of a chair according to another embodiment, wherein auxiliary legs are provided; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View of the chair according to the embodiment of FIG. 11, illustrating details of the base.

As shown in the drawings, the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 10 illustrates an arm chair formed entirely of relatively thin corrugated or fibre board, the board components being provided'in such a shape, suitably cut and scored, that the entire chair may be assembled, without tapes or staples or other auxiliary fasteners, into a rigid and sturdy chair of novel construction.

General components of the chair include a flat blank 20 (FIG. 1) which provides, when folded as is yet to be described, the chair casing, and a core 22 (FIG. 5) formed ice of interfitting panels also to be described. The assembly of' the core 22 into the casing 20, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, provide the finished chair.

Turning to details of the casing blank 20 (FIG. 1), the blank 20 is scored to provide side panels 24, a front panel 26, and a back panel 28, those panels being outwardly facing and the score lines 30 defining the edges of those panels being vertical (when the chair casing is erected). Tabs 32 are shown horizontally extending from the edge of the blank 20 (specifically as shown from the back edge of one of the side panels 24), which receive into slots 34 provided in a receiving ear 36 at the other end of the blank 20 (specifically as shown at a side edge of the back panel 28), thus permitting the blank 20 to be shipped in a completely non-assembled condition yet it may be easily assembled by the user into a securely-held casing frame unit.

Along the top of the panels 24, 26, and 28, the blank 20 provides, respectively, inwardly-facing side panels 38 which have extension panels 40'each providing a sub-deck of one-half the chair seat, a top-deck seat panel 42, and a back panel 44; the inner and outer side panels 38 and 24 being spaced by arm-top panels 46, and the inner and outer back panels 44 and 28 being spaced by a back-top panel 48.

The bottom of the blank 20 is provided with bottom panels 50 extending from the side panels 24, and with front and rear bottom panels 52 and 54 extending from the front panel 26 and rear panel 28, respectively.

Tab and associated slot means are provided, as shown, on several of the panels of the blank 20; but these for brevity are not described in detail, for they form no part of the present invention. 1

The core 22 (FIG. 5) is provided by a pair of generally L-shaped longitudinal panels 56 (FIG. 2), a pair of generally U-shaped transverse panels 58 (FIG. 3), and a gen erally rectangular back-brace panel 60 (FIGS. 4 and 5) foldable along two horizontal score lines 62 into a generally C-shape when viewed from the side.

The construction concepts provide that only two of the longitudinal core-panels 56 are needed, both 'located inboard of the chair arms, and the arm-top panels 46 are provided with column-support by the core wholly by the transverse core-panels 58.

Longitudinal core-panels 56 are shown provided along their forwardly-extending seat-supporting panel 64 with vertically extending slots, the two of these slots most forwardly-located receiving the transverse core-panels 58.

It is noted that the most-forward slot 66 is closely adjacent the front of panel 64, positioning the forward transverse panel 58 in a rigidity-imparting forward location with respect to the chair seat; and the rearward slot 68 of this pair is generally centrally positioned on the member 56, positioning the rearward transverse panel 58 in a rigidity-imparting location rearward with respect to the seat.

The rearward slot 70 is located at the junction of the seat-supporting panel 64 and the upright leg-panel 72 of longitudinal core-panels 56, and these slots 70 receive tabs 74 rearwardly extending from seat-panel 42. The upright leg-panel 72 of each panel 56 is provided, along its front edge, with a pair of vertically spaced, rearwardly extending slots 75 which receive the lower and upper panels 76 of the back brace 60; and between the slots 75, the panel 72 is relieved to accommodate the thickness of the central pane-l 77 of back brace 60.

The transverse core-panels 58 are each provided with two slots 78 for receiving the longitudinal core-panels 56. These slots 78 extend upwardly from the bottom of the transverse panel 58, and are located symmetrically, positioning the longitudinal core-panels 56 adjacent the sides of the chair-seat and rather close to the chair arms,

permitting the longitudinal panels 56 to support the lateral ends of transverse panel 58 against lateral deflection, permitting the upright legs 86 of transverse panels 58 to provide the entire core-provided column support of the arm-top panels 46.

As shown, the various slots of the core members are of a mutual nature, that is, each provides one-half of the 'length of interfit of the members.

Assembly of the chair, once the components of core 22 have been fully assembled as shown in FIG. 5, is easy and convenient; for the core 22 is placed in the casing formed by blank 20, and then the various panels of blank are folded over and their tabs fitted into place, as shown by FIGS. 6 through 10.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate another embodiment, wherein auxiliary legs are used. As there shown, there is provided a plate member 82, as of plywood or the like, which underlies the chair-bottom panelling; and the plate 82 is provided in each corner with a hole 34. The panelling 50 and 52 of the chair-bottom at each corner is also provided with holes (86 and 38 respectively) which, When the chair is assembled, register with each other and with the plate holes 84.

A leg 90 is provided for each corner of the chair; and each leg 90 is provided with an upwardly-extending bolt 92. As shown in FIG. 12, the bolt 92 is passed upwardly through the holes 84-86-88; and, above the upper-most bottom panel (here panel 52), the bolt 92 is secured by a nut 94, a suitable Washer or washers 96 being used as desired under the-nut.

The auxiliary-leg construction of FIGS. 11 and 12 achieves the construction-economy of the foldable material for the chair body, but achieves further rigidity by eliminating some of the vertical height of the foldablematerial portion of the chair, yet providing the desired overall height.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a new and useful furniture construction, having advantages of construction, economy, rigidity, and convenience of assembly, and providing in the overall a desired furniture construction.

Accordingly, from the foregoing description of the invention according to the illustrative embodiments, considered with the accompanying drawings, it is seen that the invention provides a novel and useful device having desirable advantages and characteristics, and accomplishing its intended objects, including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be eifected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the invention; accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof illustrated and described, or to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown.

For brevity, certain of the construction and assembly details are shown in the drawings but not described, those components forming no part of the present invention, and

4- being shown in US. Patent 2,955,647; although certain details there shown which'are not part of the present invention are set forth herein to show the setting for the present concepts.

What is claimed is:

1. A furniture construction, comprising a seat body formed from stiff but foldable sheet stock into a casing structure, and having a supporting core therein formed of interfitting crossing panels into a grid, the casing having bottom panelling formed as extensions of vertical panels of the casing and cooperating when folded into assembled form to provide a bottom for the seat body, the casing and grid being of relatively shallow height to require minimum column-type support by the sheet stock, and auxiliary legs secured to said bottom panelling to provide in co-operation with the sheet stock seat body the desired overall height of the furniture; there being openings provided in said bottom panelling extensions which register with each other when the casing structure is folded into assembled form, and holding means for extending through said openings and into said legs to secure together said legs and said bottom panelling.

2. A furniture construction including a body core formed of a grid of panel members extending in two perpendicularly related directions and interconnected by mutual slot means, there being two groups of such panel members, the panel members of each group disposed in parallel planes, one group presenting generally vertically extending edges, said edges being provided with generally horizontally extending slots, and a brace member for fitting into said slots, there being two vertically-spaced slots in each of said edges, and the brace member being generally C-shaped when viewed from the side, and its flanges being receivable into said slots.

3. A furniture construction including a pair of parallel panel members, parallel edges of said panel members being provided with slots extending inwardly of said edge, there being two slots in each edge, the slots of the pair of panel members being located in .a pair of parallel rows, and a brace member of a general C-shape When viewed from the side, the outer edge of each flange of which being provided with a pair of inwardly-extending slots spaced apart the distance which the said panel members are spaced apart, the slots of the brace member and said panel members being of a mutual slot nature.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,806,514 9/1957 Smith 297-442 2,904,105 9/1959 Holden 297-442 2,955,647 10/1960 Smith 297-442 3,066,982 12/1952 Brower 297 440 FOREIGN PATENTS 579,057 10/1958 Italy.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

C, A, NUNBERG, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION, COMPRISING A SEAT BODY FORMED FROM STIFF BUT FOLDABLE SHEET STOCK INTO A CAUSING STRUCTURE, AND HAVING A SUPPORTING CORE THEREIN FORMED OF INTERFITTING CROSSING PANELS INTO A GRID, THE CASING HAVING BOTTOM PANELLING FORMED AS EXTENSIONS OF VERTICAL PANELS OF THE CAUSING AND CO-OPERATING WHEN FOLDED INTO ASSEMBLED FROM TO PROVIDE A BOTTOM FOR THE SEAT BODY, THE CASING AND GRID BEING OF RELATIVELY SHALLOW HEIGHT TO REQUIRE MINIMUM COLUMN-TYPE SUPPORT BY THE SHEET STOCK, AND AUXILIARY LEGS SECURED TO SAID BOTTOM PANELLING THE PROVIDE IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE SHEET STOCK SEAT BODY THE DESIRED OVERALL HEIGHT OF THE FURNITURE; THERE BEING OPENINGS PROVIDED IN SAID BOTTOM PANELLING EXTENSIONS WHICH REGISTER WITH EACH OTHER WHEN THE CASING STRUCTURE IF FOLDED 